Hello! My name is Elliot and I'm a undergraduate at Cornell University studying Environmental Engineering. I'm interested in how we can apply engineered solutions to make agriculture more sustainable. My research focuses on the circular bionutrient economy which in essence is about finding solutions to some of the worlds biggest problems by identifying interconnected problems. In my free time I love playing rugby, reading, learning languages (I'm learning Mandarin and Spanish), creative writing, and cooking.

Hello there! I'm a third-year student in Conservation and Biodiversity at the University of Toronto Scarborough campus. My passion for biology stems from research on pollination, insects and biodiversity at my school's gardens since I was seven-years-old. Now, I intend to continue to pursue passion this with a project that has an impact in disadvantaged communities from my home country, Colombia.  I will be studying the pollination networks of cacao trees, which is crucial to contribute to agroforestry systems in tropical Latin America, so that they are a sustainable and productive opportunity for smallholder farmers that want to restore forest areas. On a side note, I'm a curious person by nature and that's why I like to do and learn lots of things. So whether you are interested in my project or not, feel free to reach out! I believe that there are no boundaries when collaborating interdisciplinary. For example, research on cacao trees not only spans biology. There is ongoing anthropological research that is trying to figure out how cocoa got from the Amazon (its biological origin) to Mexico! 

Hi! I am a Cambridge student and Laidlaw scholar whose research focuses on individual experiences of asexuality and mental health in the UK.  I am more broadly interested in research focused on LGBTQ+ experiences, and on reducing stigma and increasing access to healthcare for minoritised groups such as racial, sexual and gender minorities. 

Hi! My name is Olivia Cheung and I’m a senior at Cornell University. I’m majoring in Biological Sciences and minoring in Community Food Systems in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. I’m from Needham, MA. I’m passionate about science, sustainability, environmental justice, and health and would love to chat with others interested in these topics!

Hello! I’m Trisha, a fourth-year student at Cornell University from Texas, USA. I’m majoring in Environment and Sustainability with a dual focus on food systems and wildlife conservation, and minoring in International Relations. My interests in combining my enduring passions for writing and wildlife conservation have driven me to explore multiple perspectives on highly-controversial issues such as trophy hunting, retaliatory animal killings, and illegal wildlife crime. Thus, during my first summer as a Laidlaw Scholar and as a member of the Morally Contested Conservation team, I wrote a literature review on the interconnectedness of climate change and human-wildlife conflicts in East and southern Africa. In June and July 2024, I furthered this research by traveling to the University of Oxford and to the Burunge Wildlife Management Area in Tanzania. I will be returning to Oxford and Burunge in June and July 2025 to report my results.  As an aspiring environmental policymaker and journalist, I am passionate about making technical scientific information more accessible to the general public. At Cornell, I am an Institute of Politics and Global Affairs Scholar, through which I interact with policymakers monthly to discuss pervasive issues in international politics. I also speak Marathi, Spanish, and Swahili at varying levels of fluency and plan to continue to grow my language skills to communicate environmental issues across continents and cultures.  For fun, I love to turn even the most mundane materials into recycled art, spend hours on end working through jigsaw puzzles, and go for runs while listening to podcasts. And as a diehard foodie who loves to travel, I’m always looking for recommendations of places to visit or new recipes to try!  The Laidlaw Scholars Program has been an invaluable component of my undergraduate experience. The friendships I’ve made, as well as the research and language skills I’ve begun to develop, have encouraged me to continue to ask and seek answers to complicated questions about global affairs and environmental science. If anyone has questions or feedback about the Laidlaw Program, is interested in collaborating, or just wants to say hello, please feel free to email me at trb238@cornell.edu. I hope we can meet in person someday!

Hi, my name is Eliza Wadell. I graduated from Cornell with a degree in Environment & Sustainability and Economics in May 2025. As part of the Laidlaw Program, I spent my first summer conducting research on the impact of harmful algal blooms on consumer choices in Lake Victoria, Kenya under the mentorship of Dr. Kathryn Fiorella. My second summer, I traveled to Sydney, Australia to work for ESG Impact to improve sustainability in local businesses.

I am the leadership developer for the University of Leeds. I am passionate about learning and ways in which we can all bring more of our true selves to work. I am keen to open dialogues about how leadership can be both effective and human in the 21st Century. My influences include a quote I learnt whilst studying to be a teacher at university "there is no liberating influence than the knowledge that things have not always been as they are and need not remain so." (Simon. B.) So, you can see that as leaders of the future Laidlaw Scholars can bring about positive and lasting change - and how great that is! My qualifications include: BEd Hons,, MSc, CIPD Dip, ILM L5 Coaching & Mentoring, PG Cert Counselling, FHEA. I am accredited to run Quintax personality profile, PPA, TMSDI Team Profile, EQi 2.0 Emotional Intelligence.

I am interested in the fields of mechanobiology, biohybrid prosthetics, biophysics, Jungian psychology, and philosophy. Recently in association with Laidlaw; In Cornell University (N.Y, U.S.A.) I worked on curating an art book on biomechanics for charity to raise awareness in this field of science. And in Trinity College Dublin (Ireland), we worked on developing a microphysiological model of the osteocytic network in the bone that can be used to better understand the (patho)physiology of bone using Direct Laser Writing technology using MLO-Y4 cell culture.  On the side; In ETH Zürich (Switzerland), I was working on understanding bio-hybrid muscle actuators using C2C12 cell culture by amassing literature review, designing biobot unit, and conducting biocompatibility tests along with growing and differentiating muscle cells for further electrical stimulation. At DogPatch Labs's Patch (Dublin, Ireland) I was experimenting with creating a start-up company to help amputees get affordable prosthetics.  On the (other) side; I like to dance, write, and read anything I get my hands on; be it music, poetry, or even shampoo bottles. Please feel free to contact me here or on LinkedIn for any discussions regarding the aforementioned topics!

At Cornell University, students across disciplines are passionate about changing the world. Open to first- and second-year students, the Laidlaw Undergraduate Research and Leadership Program provides generous support for student research, offers hands-on leadership development and reflection, and encourages students to reinvest their knowledge to help others succeed. Laidlaw Scholars are part of an international network of like-minded leaders.

Studying Sustainability and Environment Management (International) MEnv, BSc at University of Leeds after a couple of years as a reporter. Interested in ecology, completed research project last year on the effects of honey trade on UK bees, now planning a Leadership in Action project.

UCL Medical Sciences Graduate, European Astronaut Centre intern

Hello! I am a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in chemistry at the University of Hong Kong. My research project was to develop an electrocatalytic method to upcycle chloride ions (Cl-) derived from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a commonly used plastic product, into hypochlorite ions (OCl-), which is an active ingredient of bleach. Feel free to have a chat with me!

I am a History of Art student at the University of St Andrews. As part of the 2021 Laidlaw Scholars cohort, I will be researching, 'Das Unheimliche: Symbolism, Surrealism and the Art of Introspection'. For the past four years, I have been volunteering with English Heritage, where I began as a Learning Team Manager and room Explainer in Kenwood House. I am currently working as a Young Producer for the organisation's 'Shout Out Loud' programme. During my second year at St Andrews, I enjoyed writing for the university's Calliope Arts Journal. 

I am a Senior at Cornell University studying Animal Science. I plan to pursue vet school after graduation or go to grad school. For fun, I like to train and show dogs, ride horses, read, travel, and spend time outside. I have grown in my research and leadership skills as a Laidlaw Scholar. I had an amazing experience traveling abroad to pursue a meaningful experience helping others.